Mental Illness

Life isn’t perfect!

Every one of us will experience a mental health issue, like grief or stress, at some point in our lifetime. These types of feelings can affect how we think, our ability to handle situations and how we function in our day-to-day life. It’s important that when we do find ourselves feeling mentally unwell, that we take action immediately to be sure that it doesn’t get worse.

There are many options depending on your situation. You could:

Talk to a trusted adult about how you are feeling

Create a self-care routine

See a professional

Mental health can be understood on a spectrum. We all experience stress and it will naturally impact our moods. We have days where we feel great and happy, and then something stressful will happen. Our moods can shift and we can suddenly feel irritated, angry or sad. Sometimes are moods change, and we don’t know why. It’s important to know that slight changes in mood are normal, and are often temporary.

The spectrum shows that we can shift from the ‘green’ to the ‘yellow’ quite often. We often find activities that can help us calm down or cheer up, like talking with friends or family, having alone time or just taking a break!

For some individuals, these changes in mood can be very drastic and can impact day-to-day functioning. These changes can be seen in the ‘orange’ or ‘red’ of the spectrum. These areas are harder to deal with on your own.

If you are finding it hard to calm down or cheer up, or finding it difficult to understand your changes in mood, thinking or behavior, it may be time to reach out for help. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. We all deal with our emotions in different ways, and sometimes asking for help can allow you to talk to someone about how you’re feeling, which can make you feel better!

Experiencing these feelings can be very overwhelming – you may wonder if you will ever feel like yourself again. Take a deep breath – mental illness is not your fault. Asking for help can allow you to feel better, and get back to your normal!

If you find that your mental health is declining, and you are not sure what to do, remember that you are not alone, and there is help.

CONTACT CMHA & YouthSMART

NOTE: The Canadian Mental Health Association – Calgary Region does not provide crisis services. If you are in immediate need of assistance contact the Distress Centre’s 24-hour Crisis Line at 403 266 HELP (4357).